Bob Breitbard spent the last 50 years of his life preserving San Diego's sports treasures. All along, he was the most valuable sporting treasure in our town.
Breitbard passed away Monday from natural causes at the age of 91.
A graduate of Hoover High, Breitbard was a classmate of baseball legend Ted Willams.
They were lifelong friends. He took great pleasure in inviting folks into his office at the San Diego Hall of Champions and showing them the bat Ted used when he hit 406 back in 1941.
Mr. B., as he was known, played and coached football at San Diego State University and Hoover High School.
He was the brains behind building the Sports Arena and bringing a hockey team and an NBA team to San Diego.
All along he continued to honor the amateur and professional sports stars in our town. Induction into the Breitbard Hall of Fame is still the highest local sports honor an athlete can achieve.
